Display apparatus.



7 HQ M. WEBSTER.

DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION nun 001'. 51907.

Patented 0013. 12, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I W Was 7 m Y'auenlor H. M. WEBSTER. DISPLAY APPABATUQ.

APPLIOATION IILBD 00w. 4, 1907.

tn c a I P H. M. WEBSTER.

DISPLAY APMRATUS.v

uruouxon FILED 001*. 4, 1907.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. M. WEBSTER.

DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION mum on. 4, 1907.

Patented 0013. 12, 1909.

a sums-sum 4.

MINA!" H; M. WEBSTER.

DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4, 1907.

Patented Oct. 12,1909.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October}, 1907. Serial 1T0. 395,887.

Toallwhom'itmayconcem:.

' Be it known that I, HOWARD M. WEBSSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing 'at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illino1s, have invented new and useful Improvements in Display Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The primary-object of this invention is to v display characters on a display surface at a distance as they are printed or otherwise.

produced. a

More specifically, the invention has for its object to provide a machine for printing, stamping, stenciling .or otherwise applying characters on a sheet and displaying said characters on a. screen or other dis lay surface at a distance, whereby'the c'aracters become visible on the display surface as theyare produced on the sheet. I The. invention may be employed for displaying advertisements, election returns, reports of ball games and other sports, speeches or other information, and the same can be "splayed on any surface on 5- which a picture may be displayed'by' a magic lantern. e

The invention contemplates, generically,- fthe impression of the characters by printmg on a trans arent sheet or by stamping, 3o stenciling orot erwise applying the characters on an opaque sheet, and d splaying the characters on a screen as they areproduced. For, the purpose of this. application I have shown and will describe. a machine in which 35' the characters are printed on a transparent sheet,.a nd in the accompany .drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view. of t e machine. F 2 is a sideel evation. is'af-longitu a1 sectional view on' the line-3 3 of 40, Fig. '1. his a transverse sectional view 'ontheline if-40f Fig- 2. 5 is'a detail sectional view on the line -5,-5 of F' .32, showing the parts in initial position. -1'g. 6 'is a'detail"vl ew,'p artly in section, show -4: 5' the line spacing adjusting device. .Figs;

' to10, inclusive, are detail viewsof the letter spacing devices. ll-is'a sectional view on the line 11-11',of Fig. 2. 12 is a 'detailv view of a portion of the printing- "Somechanism- 'Refe to the drawings,1 is abase of any suitab e character on which is'suppo'rt no o, e d abox"2 which contains a light chamber.

3 and is'provided with a suitably vented an incandescent light, is arranged within the light chamber '3 on a support 6 which is adj iistable vertically on a standard 7 carried by a bracket 8 adjustable longitudinally on the tubular supporting rods 9. The rods '9 project through the front of the box 2 and also through guides 10 on a face plate 11 which is fastened to. the front of the box. Thumb screws 12 are provided on the guides 10 toengage the rods 9 for secur' them adjusted position. A condensing ens 13 is supported'in any. suitable manner adjacent plate/and the front chlne.

to be printed in this embodiment of the invention, travels from" a supply roll 20, under a guide roller21, over the platen and across the face of the plate 17 to take-up roller 22. Theroller 21 is mounted in the frame 15 and the rolls 20 and 22 may be mounted in saidframe or in any other suitable'manner. A strip of felt 23 may be located just above the platen if desired (Fig. 3) toprevent the .edge of the platen from thereover. been printed the sheet is automatically fed from the supply roll 20 to the take-up roller an upright shaft 24 (Figs. '2, 4:) supported in hearings in the frame 15 and having at its lower enda bevel gear 25 which meshes with a similar gear 26 onthe take-up roller. .A spring pawl 27 engages a ratchet wheel 28 on the take up roller to prevent reverse movement thereof and to hold the strip at 'tensidn A gear 29 loosely mounted on the rac bar 30 (Figs. A, 5 and this bar is sup printing-mechanism and travels with the printing mechanism transversely across the step by step as hereafter described. A spring pawl 31.0n gear 29 engages a ratchet wheel v dome 4." A lamp 5, suchas an are light, or

31? rigid on shaft 24 to turn said shaft when Patented,0ct..12, 1909';

v t( t h e face plate 11 and opposite the light scratching the sheet as the latter is drawne After a line of characters has 22 'by' a feed mechanism whichcomprises vup er end of the shaft "24 meshes'with a.

ported in arms 30' on the carriageAO of the machine from left to right in Fig. 5 and,

constitutps the impression platen of the ma- The sheet 19, on which the characters are loo 7 the gear 29 is turned by the rack bar on the return movement of theprinting mechanism to initial position. While the printing:

mechanism is moving from left to right in Fig. 5 the gear 29 turns loosely on shaft 24,

but as the rinting mechanism returns to initial positlon the spring pawl locks the gear 29 to the ratchet wheel 31 to turn the shaft 24 and feed the sheet from the supply roll'to the take-up roller. Thegcar the bar 30 maybe shifte'dlongitudinally to bring a greater number of teeth of the rack bar 30 into position for engagement with the gear 29 to turn the take-up roller a greater distancejat each operation. For this purpose I provide a lever 32 (Fig- 6) which enga es a pin 33 on the bar 30, and by moving t e lever this bar can beadjusted longitudinally. The lever is provided with a 'detent 34 which engages a notched plate 35 i to hold the lever in adjusted position. For

ordinary purposes it will be suflicient to pro vide .fora single space between lines and a double space to separate paragraphs, but obviously provision can be made for a greater variety of spacing if desired.

A projecting lens'36' s carried by' a frame 37 which is mounted on "rods 38 telescoping in the rods 9 (Fig. 3). The frame 37 is also provided with legs 39 which rest on the base 40 .1 and these legs are adjustable verticall to secure the-proper alinement of the pro]ect- 'ing lens with the condensing lens.

As heretofore suggested, the characters may be applied to the sheet 19 in any man 5 ner which will permit them to be"displayed at a distance by means of the light and the lenses. For example, a sheet of unsensitized photographicfilm may be employed and the characters printed thereon, preferably, with printers ink; or the characters. may be applied in the form of stencils or perforations out or puncturedin a sheet of opaque material. I will refer herein to the mechanism for applying the characters as the printin mechanism meanin thereb to cover any. form of mechanism for applying characters'to the sheet .by impressionor otherwise for the purpose intended. This printmg mechanism may beof any suitable form but for simplicity and convenience I prefe'r to provide some suitable typewriter mechanism forthis purpose and so far as the ,generic invention is concerned it is vimmaterial what particular kind of printing mechanism is employed. In the drawings have illustrated, in'ageneral way, one form of printing mechanism which may be employed but I do not deem it necessary to show or describe this'mechanism in detail as its specific construction forms no part of 'my invention except in the particular features hereinafter pointed out, and it will appear that. these features are not dependent entirely upon the'particular construction of printing mechanism herein shown and described.

The printing mechanism comprises a carriage 40 provided with rollers 41 which travel on tracks 42 mounted on a frame 43 fastened to the base 1. The carriage 40 and the printing mechanism carried thereby travel. step by step transversely acrossthe -machine on the tracks 42 to print a line of characters onthe sheet 19, after which the carriage and printin mechanism are reother line of characters on the sheet. The printing mechanism selected for illustration here comprises a type wheel 44 and mechanism operated by keys to revolve the type wheel until the type corresponding to the key operated is. moved into printing position and to swing the wheel against the sheet 19 to print thereon. As the type wheel swings toward the sheet 19 it engages an ink roller 45 which is supported in a frame 46 pivoted at 46 to swing on the carriage 40 and normally held by a spring 47 in position with the roller 45 in the path of movement of the type wheel. A feed roller 48 is also carturned to initial position ready to print anried by the frame 46 and it is arranged in engagement with the ink roller 45 to supply the latter with ink and s read it evenly thereon. When. the type wheel engages the ink roller and pushes the frame 46 backward the feed roller 48 will be moved into engage ment with a yielding plate 49 which carrles a supply of ink and 1s mounted on the platen frame 15.

. The printing mechanism may comprise any'number 'of keys arranged .in any suitable manner. In the particular construction illustrated in the drawings each key 50 is mounted on akey bar 51 pivoted at 51' on the carriage 40 and arranged to operate a lever 52 pivoted at 52 on the carnage and connected by a link 53 with a key lever 54.- v

This key lever has a hooked end 55 engaged with a sleeve 56 on a sha 57 supported in the carriage40. A yoke v5'8 is mounted on .the shaft 57 and two yokes 59 are mounted on the sleeve 56. Only one of the yokes 59 a'p ears in the drawingsbut it is believed th1s is suflicient for the-present purpose in view of. the fact that the yokes are duplicates one of the other and are employed because oneyoke is not sufficient for the number of typegenerally provided. depressed and the key lever operated a shoul- 1 der 60 on the key lever engages a yoke 59 and When the keyis 'swings-said yoke rearward. On the con: tinned movement ofthe key lever a shoulder 61 thereon engages and swings the yoke 58 (Fig. The yoke 59 is providedwvith an arin ()2 having teeth to mesh with a toothed segment (33-011 a frame 64: which is loosely mounted on shaft 65 supported in bearings in the carriage 40 (Fig. 12.). The frame (it carries a segment gear (S6'which meshes with a pinion 67 on the type wheel shaft-($8. As before. stated there are two yokes 59 and also two frames 64, an two segments (33 and-(A arranged on opposite sides of the pinion 67. Each yoke has an arm 62 to operate a segment 63 on a frame 64, this duplication of parts being provided to avoid the necessity of revolving the type wheel more'than a half turn to bring any type into operative position. It will be''understood that, generally speaking, one half of the keys will operate one yoke 59 and revolve the type wheel not more than a half turn in one direction and the other half of the keys will operate'the other yoke 59 and revolve the type wheel not more than a half turn in the other direction. An arm 69 on the yoke 58 is toothed to mesh with a toothed segment 70 rigid with theshaft- (35 Then the key is depressed the yoke 59 1s first operated to revolve, the type wheel until the type thereon corresponding to the key depressed-is in operative position. During this'movementthe type wheel will swingto a more 'or less extent but not to printing position, this being efi'ected when the key lever operates the yoke 58 to swing the type wheel-to printingfposition. There is a ratchet device 71 on'the shaft 68 which locks the wheel after it has been revolved to bring the proper typ in operative position and there is also a too hed registering wheel 720a the shaft 68 which engages a projection 7 3 on the carriage 40 for properly registering the type wheel 'so that it will make a clear and even impression on the sheet 19.

The printing mechanism hertofore described, with the exception of the inking de-l vice is-a commercial typewriting machine in more or less, general use with some of the parts reconstrncted and rearranged to adapt the same for my purpose and .I make no claim of invention therein. I have demonstrated that this'mechanism can be used for bodiment'of the invention a sufficient disclosure to enable others to understand, to

. make. and to use the same. I have devised a novel letter spacmg'mechanism for" this I an in printin mechanism. which is shown in deigs. to: 9,-. and also-inFigsSgto 5. This mechanismcomprises a vertically movable slide i 4opera ting against a; roller 7 5 on the earriage 40 and normally held in lowered position by a spring 76. The slide is en-j gagedbyv-amarm' 7? pivoted on the spacing of the rack bar.

key lever (Fig. 3). This arm has a hooked end 78 which engages the comb plate 79, the latter forming a guide for the key levers. On thelower end of the slide 74 there is a a foot 80 and on one side of this foot a wing 81 is hinged (Fig. 18) and on the other side there is a bracket 82 (Fig. 9). The wing and the bracket engage the teeth of a rack bar 83 supported in fixed position on the frame 43. A spring-pressed push rod 8a is supported in the foot 80 and bracket 82 and operates through the foot 80 and bears against the wing 81. A spring 85 is connected to the wing and to the bracket 82 to pull the wing against the push rod. 1 The spring 84 on the push rod is stronger than the spring 85, the latter being used simply to limit the, outward swing of the wing. The foot has a notch 86 in its edge which permits the foot to move with the printing mechanism longitudinally of the rack bar 83 and a distance of one tooth while the wing is engaged with a tooth. A spring87 is fastened to'the frame s3 and to the carriage 4:0

to pull the printing mechanism transversely across the machine. The armf77 is pivoted on the spacing key lever so that the spacing mechanism may be operated independently and whenever a type key lever is operated for the frame 58 will swing backward in en gagement with the arm and swing the latter upward thus moving the slide7t upward. In normal position the wing 81 lies against the foot 80 and overlaps the notch .86 n the foot, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. When the slide carries the :foot upward the wing will clear the teeth of tlievrack bar 83 and the .push rod will push it out from the o'sition shown in Fig. -9 to the positions own in Fig. 10. At this time that portion 80 of thefoot is engaged with a.tooth of the rack bar 83 to prevent the printing mechanism from moving. When the spring -7 6 pulls the slide 74 down to its lowered position the wing will engage thetpoth next to the tooth engaged by the foot, as shown in Fig. 10, and when thenotch in the foot '.reg1sters with the tooth of the rack bar- 83 the spring 87 will pull the printing mechanism. transversely of the-machine and move it the distance of one tooth of the rack bar'so that I the spacing mechanism will move fromthe my purpose and while other printing mech-- ;an 1sms may be used'lconsider this one em- The. invention embodies a magic lantern and a prmtmg mechanism combined andarranged in association with an element on.

which the mechanism applies printing characters so that the characters may beidisa played atadistance on a 'splay surface"as they-are al'pplied, It is be iev that in pfacftice it w'l be found more satisfactory to print'the-oharacterswith opaque on a -may be carried into eflect in both ways and by any means which will apply the characters to the sheet in a manner which will enable them to be projected by the magic lantern on to the dlsplay surface at a distance and as the characters are applied. I

therefore use the term printing in a somewhat broader sense t-han is enerally understood and to mean the pro notion of characters on a sheet either by an impression or by cutting or stamping or otherwise for the purpose herein intended. For obvious reasons it is believed to be better to provide the sheet in the form of a roll rather than a cut sheet, forwithsuitable feeding means the and read from left to right. A

machinecan be used for a longer period without changing the sheet. I refer, however, to the sheet in a broad sense as including the roll or cut sheets of transparent or opaque material. In the embodiment of the invention herein shown and described the key board is arranged inan angular position at the top of the machine and the entire printing mechanism travels across the machine as the line of characters is applied to the material but the key board may be arranged in any convenient osition, and, as be ore stated, any kind of a key board may be employed.

f 11 general practice the characters rinted on the sheet will be projected at a istance on a screen or other suitable surface. The' characters are printed upside down, in reverse position sidewise, and from left to right at the top' of the sheet, that is to say at the top of that part of a sheet roll which lies within the range of the ma '0 lantern. The characters will be displaye in correct position at the bottom of the dis lay surface f er a line of characters is printed the-sheet will be fed downward from the supply rollto the take- "up roller but on the display-surface the projected line of characters will move upward when the sheet is fed downward. Thus the last lineprinted will appear on the display surface at the bottom of the printed matter displayed, -where it should appear, and the last word or character printed will appear at the end of the characters displayed. Each character becomes visible on the display surface at the instant it is printed,

as in the visible writin type-writmg machines,- and this is calcu ated to greatly en- I lian'ce the popular interest in thedisplay; The typeare normally out of the path-of the v light from the lamp and the printing operation-isscompleted so'quickly that the moveent f. the type against the sheet will hardly be noticeable. Thecharacters may be magnified to any desired size so that they can be easily read.

The type wheel shown in the drawings swings in an arc and I bevel the platen to provlde a plane surface for the type to strike upon. The type'- wheel has three rows of type on its eriphery and the platen is made narrow so t at the type in the other rows in line with the type in printing position will not print during the printing operation.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Iatent is: I

1. In a display apparatus, the combination of a blank sheet, means for displaying and movable in and out of the range of'85 said displayingmeans during the printing operation. v

2. In a display apparatus, the; combination of a blank transparent sheet, means for displaying type characters at a distance and as. they are applied to the sheet, and means for printing said type characters on the sheet within'the range of said displaying means and movable in andout of the-range of said ation.

displaying means during the printing o'per- 3. In a display apparatus, the combination of a blank sheet, a magic lantern for displaying type characters at a distance and as they are applied to? the sheet, and means -tion of a blank transparent sheet, a magic lantern .for displaying type characters at a distance and as they are applied to the v tsheet, and means for printing said ity characters on the sheet within the range ofsaid displaying means and movable in and out ofthe range of said displaying means during the printing operation.-

5. In a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a pro ecting lens-,a blank sheet between the lamp and the lens, and

.meansmovable in and out of the range of said lens during the printing operation for printing type characters on that part of the, sheet between the lamp and the lens and while illuminated by the lamp so that said characters will be di playedas they are printed and-at a distance.

6. In 'a display apparatus tion of. a lamp, a projecting lens, a blank I transparent sheet between the lamp and the lens, and means movable 1n and out of the range of said lens during the printing opthe 'combinaeration for printingtypejcharacters on that of the sheet between thelamp and the ens and at the top thereof from left to right so that said type characters will be 'dis-' -'tion of a lamp, a

art of the sheet between thelamp and the cue and while illuminated by the lamp so that saidc characters will be displayed as they are printed and at a distance- 7. In'a display apparatus, the combinarojectin lens, a blank sheet illuminated y the amp, printing means :for applying characters to that part of the sheet between the lamp and the lens to read from left to right when projected by ,the lens on a display surface at a dis-v tance, and means for feeding the sheet so that each successive line of characters will be dis layed below the preceding line.

of a lamp, a pro ecting lens, a blank sheet m reverse. position sidewise on; that rt played by the lens on a. display surface at a distance in proper reading position.

9. In a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a projecting lens, a' blank sheet illuminated by the lamp, means located to operate within the range of the lamp and lens for printing characters upside down. and in reverse position sidewise on the sheet at the top thereof from left to right so that 7 they will be displa ed by the lens on a display surface at a :'stance in pro er reading position, and means for feeding the sheet so that each successive line of characters .will be displayed below the preceding line.

'10. In a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a pro ecting lens, an im ression platen between the lamp and the ens, and type printing means for printin pgainst' the platen within the range of sai ens. E

11. In a display apparatus; the-combine tion of a lainp,"a projecting lens, a transparent plate between the lamp and the lens,

a platen, and type printing means for printing-against the platen within the range of said lens. ii

12. In a display apparatus, the combina tion of a lamp, a pro'ecting' lens atransparent plate between t e, lamp and the lens,-

' a platen on said plate at one edge thereof,

a blank sheet on said platen, and type pripting means for printing on the sheet against the platen withln the range of said lens. '13. In a display apparatus, the combina- 7 sur' ace atone ed e t ereof, ablank sheet -said platen, and

tion of a' lamp, a. pro ectingv lens, a transrent laten between the lamp and the ens sa'i platen havin abeveled impression type rintingmeans for a display apparatus, the combinationtion of a lamp, a pro ectin 14. In a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a pro ecting lens, an impression platen between the lamp and the lens, a blank sheet lyin against said platen on the lens side thereo and t printing means for printing on the sheetagainst the platen v within the range of said lens.

; 15. In a display apparatus, the combinarange of said projecting lens during each operation for printing against the sheet on the platen within the range of said lenses. I

16. In a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a projecting lens, a platen between the lamp and lens, said platen having a beveled impressio surface, and-means for printing against said pression surface. 17. In .a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a. projecting lens, a transparent platen between the lamp and lens, said platen having a beveled impression surface, andmeans for impression surface; 7

18. In a display apparatus, the combinalens, a blank sheet between the lamp an the lens, and means for printing type characters on the sheet in lines running transversely thereof withinthe range of said lens and movable in and out of the range of said lens during the printingoper'ation. 7

19. In 'a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a projecting lens, a blank sheet between the lamp and the lens, means printing against said g the sheet lengthwise after sheet, means for feedin the printing mechanism, a supply roll an a takep roller for the sheet, and devices operated y said feeding-means for feeding'the sheet from the supply roll to-the take-up roller. 1

. 21. In a display apparatus, the combmation of a lamp, a projecting lens, a blank sheet to receive the characters to be displayed, an impression platen for the sheet,

mechanism for printing characteps' on the sheet, means for feeding the printing mechanis'm, a rack- .bar traveling with the printing mechanism, a supptly roll :for the sheet, artake-up roller, a sha geared to sald takeup roller, and a gear on said shaft arranged. to It}: operatedby saidrack bar to turn the sha 22 In a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a pro ecting lens, a blank.

sheet between the lamp and lens, and type? Writer mechanism comprisin a part movable in and out of therange 0 said lens during each printing operation for printing characters on the ,sheet for display by the lens at a distance.

23. In a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a projectin lens, a blank sheet between the lamp and%ens, and typewriter mechanism comprising a part movable in and out ofthe range of said lens and transversely across said range to print characters on the sheet for display-by the lens at a distance.

24. In a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a projecting lens, a blank and ada ted to rint characters onthe sheet for disp ay by t e lens at a distance as they are printed. y 26. In a display apparatus, the combination of' a lamp, a proJectmg lens, a blank sheet illuminated by the lamp, atype wheel normally out of the path of the light 'between the sheet and the lens, and means for moving said type wheel to .print on the sheet..

27. In a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a proJecting lens,'a blank' 'she'etilluminated by the lamp, a type wheel normally out-of the path of the light between the sheet and the lens, means for moving said type Wheel to print on the sheet, and an inking device arranged in the. path of movement of the type wheel to ink the I yp a 28. In a display apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a projecting lens, a blank -sheet illuminated by the lamp, means for printing on the sheet, said prlnting means comprlslng a movable .rack bar, and ademovable relative to said rack bar.

HOIVARD M. NVEBSTER;

Witnesses:

- H. D. WILLIS,

.A. N. STADLER.

-vice for feeding the printing means and 

